Jerusalem Beyond Redemption
Synopsis 2Kings 23:23-31 10/22/2019
King Josiah of Judah was unlike any king who had come before him. Upon hearing the Law of Moses read, he repented entirely. And then, he thoroughly purged the land from the abuses of wrong worship, idolatry and witchcraft.
Even so, God’s wrath was reportedly unabated. The scripture notes that the Lord still intended to reject Jerusalem.
In time, Josiah died in battle at Megiddo. Afterward, his servants took his body to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors.
Jehoahaz was Josiah’s son. So, the people named him the next king over Judah. However, he reigned for only three months.
Jerusalem Beyond Redemption
Despite all of Josiah’s efforts to purge the land of inequity, God had determined Jerusalem’s fate. The city itself had become a stumbling block to God’s plan. And so, the city had to be destroyed.
Circumstances Beyond Redemption
When I do what I know is wrong AND I know there is no possibility that it could not be wrong, that behavior is beyond redemption.
For example, the act of premeditated murder is beyond redemption. And while even this doesn’t mean that someone who commits premeditated murder is beyond redemption, the act remains irredeemable. This act can never be really good under any circumstances. It can only bring death.
So, knowing this, it’s curious to me how often I still struggle to let go of things that I know are essentially wrong. Though I am clearly overweight, I always eat the plate clean wanting to believe that it is a “sin to waste food”. But no amount of justification can redeem my bad habits. And, in this sense, my habit of overeating cannot be redeemed.
So I’m slowly learning that it’s time for me to be more decisive and leave unworthy things behind.
“If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.” 1John 5:16
